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Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Montgomery

Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2020, the United States spent 19.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Montgomery using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 annual mean wage. Job descriptions are from O*NET. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

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#33. Physical therapist aides

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,390
– #176 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,110
– Employment: 45,790
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Savannah, GA ($53,640)
— Akron, OH ($49,570)
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($49,470)
– Job description: Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.

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#32. Orderlies

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,280
– #102 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,780
– Employment: 43,570
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($54,270)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,580)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($51,170)
– Job description: Transport patients to areas such as operating rooms or x-ray rooms using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds. May maintain stocks of supplies or clean and transport equipment. Psychiatric orderlies are included in Psychiatric Aides.

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#31. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,060
– #237 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,980
– Employment: 98,810
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,950)
— New Haven, CT ($45,360)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($41,210)
– Job description: Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#30. Nursing assistants

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,180
– #339 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,310

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,050
– Employment: 1,371,050
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,420)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($43,960)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($42,200)
– Job description: Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

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#29. Athletic trainers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,420
– #149 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,230
– Employment: 27,430
– Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($71,890)
— Macon, GA ($68,350)
— Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($67,280)
– Job description: Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.

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#28. Psychiatric technicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,210
– #127 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,080
– Employment: 85,330
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Stockton-Lodi, CA ($69,970)
— Bakersfield, CA ($69,960)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($69,140)
– Job description: Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients’ physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.

Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#27. Medical assistants

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $29,680
– #362 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 610

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,930
– Employment: 710,200
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,960)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($53,660)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($52,520)
– Job description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

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#26. Medical equipment preparers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,360
– #176 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,070
– Employment: 56,870
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($65,400)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($65,280)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($64,970)
– Job description: Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.

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#25. Ophthalmic medical technicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $30,980
– #210 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $40,010
– Employment: 59,960
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,300)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,190)
— Duluth, MN-WI ($56,200)
– Job description: Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.

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#24. Pharmacy technicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $31,400
– #326 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 400

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,450
– Employment: 415,310
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,620)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,020)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($52,810)
– Job description: Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

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#23. Surgical technologists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $31,480
– #267 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 260

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,510
– Employment: 107,400
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($79,230)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($74,080)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($73,460)
– Job description: Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons’ assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

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#22. Dental assistants

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $32,640
– #375 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

National
– Annual mean salary: $42,310
– Employment: 312,140
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Rosa, CA ($58,570)
— Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($56,240)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($54,550)
– Job description: Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

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#21. Opticians, dispensing

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $32,980
– #223 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,380
– Employment: 68,180
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Utica-Rome, NY ($71,220)
— Danbury, CT ($68,590)
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($66,900)
– Job description: Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or reshape frames. Includes contact lens opticians.

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#20. Phlebotomists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $33,930
– #179 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $37,280
– Employment: 128,020
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Redding, CA ($52,770)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($51,920)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($51,620)
– Job description: Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.

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#19. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $40,970
– #343 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 680

National
– Annual mean salary: $50,090
– Employment: 676,440
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,950)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($74,820)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($74,520)
– Job description: Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

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#18. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $41,410
– #337 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 330

National
– Annual mean salary: $64,840
– Employment: 206,720
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($120,270)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,250)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,850)
– Job description: Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient’s bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

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#17. Physical therapist assistants

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $46,850
– #288 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $59,440
– Employment: 92,740
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($81,510)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($78,370)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($78,240)
– Job description: Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

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#16. Dental hygienists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $47,820
– #374 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370

National
– Annual mean salary: $78,050
– Employment: 194,830
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($133,730)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,340)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($118,980)
– Job description: Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.

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#15. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $51,300
– #123 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $60,940
– Employment: 55,980
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($104,430)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($89,930)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,450)
– Job description: Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#14. Respiratory therapists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $52,920
– #236 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $65,640
– Employment: 131,890
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,200)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($100,710)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($100,080)
– Job description: Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

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#13. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $53,890
– #239 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $77,790
– Employment: 73,920
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($138,130)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($126,610)
— Stockton-Lodi, CA ($121,710)
– Job description: Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

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#12. Speech-language pathologists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $55,670
– #342 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $83,240
– Employment: 148,450
– Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Modesto, CA ($128,540)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($120,920)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($115,480)
– Job description: Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.

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#11. Dietitians and nutritionists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $61,810
– #129 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $64,150
– Employment: 66,330
– Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Rosa, CA ($95,140)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($95,060)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($93,640)
– Job description: Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#10. Registered nurses

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $65,380
– #278 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,660

National
– Annual mean salary: $80,010
– Employment: 2,986,500
– Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,200)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,870)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($142,140)
– Job description: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#9. Occupational therapists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $70,740
– #308 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $87,480
– Employment: 126,610
– Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— The Villages, FL ($115,920)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($115,060)
— Modesto, CA ($112,870)
– Job description: Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual’s environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.

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#8. Physical therapists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $78,300
– #351 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $91,680
– Employment: 220,870
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— El Centro, CA ($143,500)
— Modesto, CA ($123,370)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($119,510)
– Job description: Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

Austin Community College // Flickr

#7. Veterinarians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $103,900
– #124 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $108,350
– Employment: 73,710
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($169,220)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($150,370)
— Akron, OH ($150,330)
– Job description: Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.

Kzenon // Shutterstock

#6. Optometrists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $105,110
– #125 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $125,440
– Employment: 36,690
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Columbia, SC ($228,340)
— New Haven, CT ($186,950)
— Evansville, IN-KY ($182,980)
– Job description: Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#5. Nurse practitioners

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $107,380
– #230 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 230

National
– Annual mean salary: $114,510
– Employment: 211,280
– Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($188,070)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($177,800)
— Salinas, CA ($155,310)
– Job description: Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#4. Pharmacists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $120,700
– #264 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 310

National
– Annual mean salary: $125,460
– Employment: 315,470
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Madera, CA ($165,350)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($162,540)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($161,120)
– Job description: Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

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#3. Podiatrists

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $133,290
– #35 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $151,110
– Employment: 9,710
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA ($229,330)
— Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($226,260)
— Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($221,380)
– Job description: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.

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#2. Dentists, general

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $162,820
– #187 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $180,830
– Employment: 95,920
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($286,540)
— North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($278,790)
— Portland-South Portland, ME ($278,390)
– Job description: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.

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#1. Family medicine physicians

Montgomery, AL
– Annual mean salary: $202,770
– #177 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $214,370
– Employment: 98,590
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA ($309,800)
— Napa, CA ($302,040)
— Gadsden, AL ($292,110)
– Job description: Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.